Tire-tightener



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. JENNINGS.

TIRE TIGHTENBR.

N0. 369,719. Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

W I T .NESSE S u PETERS. Phmumo mr. Wnnmglon, no.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- -Sheet 2. R. JENNINGS.

TIRE TIGHTENBR.

No. 369,719. Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

WYTJVESSES R 0 MW m m y flttorney u. PETEM. Wwlvklhopapher. wnmnglm u aUNITED STATES PATENT EETcE.

RUSSELL JENNINGS, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

Tl RE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,719, datedSeptember 13, 1887.

Application filed February 11, 1887. Serial No. 227,302. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUssELL JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Tighteners; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of tiretighteners which comprise athreaded bar having an adjustable clamp and nut adapted to be adjustedby means of a suitable wrench to bring the clamp to bear against thefelly, whereby the sections of the latter are separated from each otherand from the spoke to permit the insertion of wedges. As heretoforeconstructed most tire-tighteners of this class have been open to theobjection that they are not adapted for use upon wheels whose spokes arevery close together, and to the further objection that during theadjustment of the device the foot-rest, being ordinarily an integralpart of the threaded bar, will turn laterally and bear against the sidesof the spokes at the hub and bruise and damage the spokes.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device adapted foruse upon wheels of various sizes and construction; and to this end myinvention consists in an improved footrest separate from the threadedbar and adapted to fit between the spokes of different sizes and stylesof wheels.

My invention further consists in certain improvements in theconstruction, arrangement, and operation of parts, substantially as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating theapplication of my improved tire-tightener. Fig. 2 is a side view of thetire-tightener. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of the foot-rest. Fig. 5 is a detail bottom viewof the foot-rest. .Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cap-piece.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters ofreference.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates the threaded bar, upon which ismounted a nut, 13, supporting a cylindrical tube, 0.

This

tube is mounted upon the top end of the threaded bar and has its loweredge resting upon the nut, whereby when the nut is ad justed the tube iselevated to bring the cap piece D against the under side of the felly.

The cap-piece D is loosely set or fitted upon the end of the tubularsection, and for this purpose it is provided in its under side with anannular groove, (1, to receive the corresponding end, b, of the tubularsection. top surface of the cap-piece is grooved or concaved from thecenter, as illustrated at d d. By this improved construction, and bymounting the cap-piece loosely upon the tubular sec tion, the cap-piecemore readily adapts itself to the inner face of the felly, and if a boltprojects through the latter, as frequently occurs at the point where thecap-piece is applied, the cap-piece will assume an inclined positionrelative to the tubular section, as illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. 3,one end being adapted to rest on the bolt and the other setting upagainst the inner face of the felly.

E designates the foot-rest, which is separate from the threaded bar andformed with a longitudinal groove, e, in its top surface, this groovebeing concaved or approximately V- shaped in cross-section. The sides ofthe footrest are inclined to adapt them to fit between the spokes at thehub, and at intervals shoulders f are formed and extend around the sidesand bottom of the foot-rest, thus dividing the latter into sections F ofvarying diameter. Some of these sections F are provided with asquaredbottom edge, as shown at f, while others are provided withacurved bottom edge, f, and a series of graduated members, as shown, maybe provided to distinguish the different The sections. By this improvedconstruction of foot-rest, embodying the sections of different sizes andconstruction, my improved tiretightener is adapted for use upon wheelsof different sizes and construction, the foot-rest being set between thespokes until the section corresponding to the space between the spokescomes in position. The nut may then be operated and the felly and spokestightened without marring or bruising the ends of the spokes at the hub.

The threaded bar is provided with an enlarged and flattened lower end,A, having an approximately V-shaped or convex bottom edge, a,corresponding to and received by the groove in the top of the foot-rest.

In using my improved tire-tightener I prefer to use a vulcanized paperwasher to take foot-rest having a longitudinal groove in its topsurface, a threaded bar separate from the foot-rest and having aV-shaped or convex end corresponding to and received by said groove, anut working upon the bar, a tubular section supported upon the nut, anda cap piece loosely mounted upon the tubular section and adapted toassume an inclined position in relation thereto, substantially as setforth. I

2. In a tire-tightener, the combination of a foot-rest having alongitudinal V-shaped or concave groove in its top surface and formedwith inclined sides and with shoulders dividing the foot-rest intosections of different diameter, a threaded bar having its lower endV-shaped or convex corresponding to and received by said groove, a nutworking upon the bar, a tubular section supported bythe nut,

and a separate cap-piece having an annular groove receiving the top endof the tubular section, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tire-tightener, the combination, with a threaded bar having aV-shaped or convex lower end, of a separate foot-rest having alongitudinal V-shaped or concave groove in its top surface andcomprising sections of different diameter, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tire-tightener, the combination, with a threaded bar having anenlarged or flattened lower end formed with a V-shaped or convex edge,of a separate foot-rest having a longitudinal V-shaped or concave groovein its top surface and formed with inclined sides divided by shouldersinto sections of different diameter, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described improved foot'rest, approximately V-shaped incross section and formed with a longitudinal groove in its top surface,the inclined sides being provided at intervals with shoulders dividingthe rest into sections of different diameter, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSELL JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

JAMEs M. BYLER, O. O. BYLER.

